Buying advice sought: I need a good in-car SatNav (with traffic alerts) for use just in UK

Hi

Any advice on which in-car GPS navigation system is best (in UK)?

I need:
- Point A to point B route-finding (accurately)
- Heavy traffic alerts (and alternative route suggestions?)

- Accurate maps (I only need UK)
- Intuitive interface (including address finding by postcode,
obviously)


Also desireable (in order of priority) would be:
- Being POCKET SIZED - (so that when removing the device from
the car it is easy to carry)
- Portable (Battery powered) so you can use it on foot??
- Also a fairly big screen (for easy reading)
- Ability to dim screen at night
- Being able to see points of interest on the maps (including
contours??)
- Easy-to-use zooming in and out to see how you are progressing
- Ability to download software/updates (e.g. using my PC and a USB
port?)

- OPTIONAL:
Ideally I shall also need to be able to use my mobile phone with it
(currently a SonyEricsson P910i - which has bluetooth).

Obviously there needs to be a good way to hide it/take it out
of the car in case it gets stolen.

- Any advice?

Budget:
GBP 200-300 ??

Makes & models I am considering:

Garmin (e.g. Nuvi 610T + Traffic Module GTM 21?)
TomTom (GO 910 ?)
Sony (NV U50T Smart Sat Nav System / NV U70T ?)
Magellan ??



Ship
Shiperton Henethe

I believe the tomtom units will fit your needs except for traffic alerts
(they have it but from what I read its crap, have never read a good review
of the traffic alerts yet), and contours.
Do you _really_ need contours ....... you dont tour a caravan do you????

Dunno about the SE 910i. And you dont need the TT910, a lower version will
do.

FWIW, IME when there is a serious traffic problem, every man and his dog is
going via the diversions so it really doesnt help you. All the other nav
units wll also be diverting you down the same little country lane as well
:-) Its an illusion to believe they will get you out of trouble, they are
just too far behind the news and as more and more people subscribe,
self-defeating.

--
Tumbleweed

email replies not necessary but to contact use;
tumbleweednews at hotmail dot com

On 23/02/2007, ship wrote in message


Those put together are the 610D (Deluxe) currently being sold by Halfords
for 300 quid. I have one. It's great and does all the things you list.

Simon.
--
http://www.hearsay.demon.co.uk

ship wrote:

Any TomTom will do, the latest maps are good and the simple touch screen
controls are very easy to use. If you really need all the bells and
whistles and are prepared to pay for them then the 910 is as good as it
gets.

This months Which? has a complete review of 20 of the latest GPS units
and TomTom took all the Best buy awards.

Rathere depressingly about half the unit in that report seem to have
been
award "Best Buy"

e=2Eg. ALL these units were awarded "BEST BUY" (!!):

- Garmin n=FCvi 300
- Snooper Syrius (UK and Ireland)
- TomTom ONE UK
- TomTom GO 510
- Tom Tom GO 910
- Road Angel Nav 6000 (despite v slow startup)
- Magellan Roadmate 6000T
- Magellan Roadmate 800
- Becker Cascade 7944 (=A3800!!)

Has "Which?" sold their sole to the Devil?

P=2ES. On reflection I think one VERY important thing will be
that it needs to be quite portable and flat so that it will fit
into the pocket quite easily. But on the other hand it would
be useful to have a big screen area just the same, (so long
as it stays pretty portable...!)
Otherwise if you leave it in the
car, someone is bound to steal it.


Ship
Shiperton Henethe